Final 2010 Books: 62 - 66

Well, as I said around the new year, I didn't meet my goal of 100 books.  There are a lot of things I could blame this on, from the blog, YT channel, work, etc, etc, but I know the real reason & it is poor time management.  I haven't gotten around to making any official resolutions for 2011, but at least unofficially, better time management is at the top of my list.  I think I'm doing better.  We'll see how it goes as the year progresses. 

 

#62

Harvest Moon

Anthology

Fantasy/Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

 

This anthology included novellas from:  Mercedes Lackey, Michelle Sagara & Cameron Haley

 

Of course Mercedes Lackey has been a favorite of mine for some time.  The other 2 I had not read before, but Cameron Haley immediately caught my attention with a mobster sorceress - does that not just have a cool ring to it?  I requested her full-length novel right away & it was my first book of 2011 that I finished so stay tuned for me to start my next book list later this month.

 

#63

Strange Attractions

Emma Holly

(Slightly Paranormal) Romance

 

Romance plus .... wait for it ... quantum physics.  Oh, and kinky stuff.  Which is kind of par for Emma Holly but she manages to fit in a real story along with all the sexy bits, which is why I like her.

 

#64

The Sleeping Beauty

Mercedes Lackey

Five Hundred Kingdoms Book 5

Fantasy

 

So I realized I'd had this on hold for like, months, after I read Lackey's novella in Harvest Moon (above).  I un-held it, and breezed through in only a few days; I like this series because it puts such hilarious twists on so many traditional tales.

 

#65

Legacies

Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill

Shadow Grail Book 1

Teen Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

 

I thought that this book was either going to be trying to be Harry Potter, with the poor orphan sent off to school to discover their magic - but it didn't give me that feel at all.  Looking forward to the 2nd installment.

 

#66

The Iron Duke

Meljean Brook

Iron Seas Book 1

Steampunk

 

I haven't delved a whole lot into steampunk.  When I first heard the premise for the genre, I wasn't too impressed - but this was at a time when I really hadn't read any good historical fiction.  Since then I have not only read good historical fiction, I've come to appreciate a good alternate history as well, and I like the twists that steampunk ads to the "normal" world.  Taking that "what if ...?" and running with it.

 

Do you keep track of your reading?  & if so how many books did you devour in 2010?  I'm off to a slow start for 2011 (only 2, the second just finished this evening), which is a shame considering how sick I've been - I feel like even if I am too weak to do anything else, I should have picked up a book more often than I did.  I just finished my 2nd book for the year.  I'd like to read more in 2011 than I did in 2010, but other than that I'm not aiming for any particular milestone amount.

 

Thanks for reading =)

 

~Colette

2010 Books 39 - 48

More book catch up!

#39

Demon Moon

Meljean Brook

Guardians Book 4

Paranormal Romance

Because I read a novella from later in the timeline before I read this book, I kind of knew how it was going to turn out, but for most of the book I swear I didn't see how they were going to manage it.

#40

Angel's Blood

Nalini Singh

Guild Hunter Book 1

Paranormal Romance

So ... I like this series a lot, buy there were couple of plot twists that I hadn't run into before & that took me a while to wrap my head around:  vampires are ... made my angels.  & archangels ... rule the world.  Basically.  If that's a little too weird for you - or blasphemous - I would not recommend this book.  If you think that's cool, get to the library =)

#41

Magic Bleeds

Ilona Andrews

Kate Daniels Book 4

Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

Kate's relationship with Curran, and her relationship with the Order, have both been seriously rocky over the course of the first 3 books - and both come to a head in this book.  I found both outcomes pretty satisfying - for completely different reasons - and I'm looking forward to book #5.  Nixxy if you're reading I have to thank you because I remember I picked up the first book on your recommendation =)

#42

Demon Night

Meljean Brook

Guardians Book 5

Paranormal Romance

Some people might classify these as rather formula, because the love stories from each book are all kind of similar in that there's so much miscommunication & missed chances & uncertainty - but the reason I like the series is that the relationships & sexy bits actually take a backseat to the storyline & the overall mytharc.  Different main characters every time, but those from previous books don't just like ride off into the sunset or conveniently disappear, they're still major players in the story, just not the particular book if that makes sense.

#43

Archangel's Kiss

Nalini Singh

Guild Hunter Book 2

Paranormal Romance

After her transformation, Elena must master her new skills - but with an invitation from the oldest archangel that can't be denied, she doesn't have much time to learn.  This was easier for me to get into than the first one, since I knew what I was getting into, but I was hoping they'd get back to New York & it looks like I'll have to wait for the 3rd book for that - which isn't out until January 2011.

#44

Kitty Goes to War

Carrie Vaughn

Kitty Norville Book 8

Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

Anyone who reads this series knows that Cormac got out of prison at the end of the last book - but he's not the same as when he went in.  For one thing, being on parole he can no longer tote around large amounts of firearms =(  But it seems he's come out with a few even more useful skills .... hmmm, don't want to give any spoilers!  But I can't wait for the next book.  You probably get sick of me saying that LOL, but I really love a good long-running series.  I get really attached to the characters & I really enjoy a multi-book mytharc, with some questions being answered while others are being raised across the entire series.

#45

Demon Bound

Meljean Brook

Guardians Book 7

Paranormal Romance

I know it looks like I skipped book 6 - but #6 was only a novella, included in the anthology First Blood which will show up a little later in my list because I read the short for this series & then I'm being super slow finishing the rest of the book LOL.  Things are labelled differently depending on where you look, but I usually go by what they have on Fantastic Fiction because that's my go-to book site to see what's coming up next or what I need to go back & read =)

#46

Demon Forged

Meljean Brook

Guardians Book 9

Paranormal Romance

Another gap due to a novella - book 8 was included in the anthology Must Love Hellhounds, which I think I read earlier this year although it may have been late last year.  The main character from this book, Irena, has I think the most kick-ass Guardian power so far of all the books - she can manipulate metal.  And I don't just mean that she make weapons - although she does - but she can temporarily replace her own limbs if one happens to be hacked off in battle.

#47

Demon Blood

Meljean Brook

Guardians Book 10

Paranormal Romance

This is one of the few covers that actually shows a Guardian with their wings - I should mention that (unlike the Guild Hunter series) they're not actually angels.  They're humans who die while saving the life and/or soul of someone else from a demon & are given the opportunity to continue fighting ... well, cheesy as it sounds basically to continue fighting the forces of evil =)

#48

Burning Up

Anthology

Paranormal Romance

This anthology featured novellas by Angela Knight, Nalini Sign, Virginia Kantra & Meljean Brook.

All authors that I love - and with one exception, none of the stories were set in the worlds that I anticipated.  Which was OK I suppose, but I was hoping for another Guardians story from Meljean, and another Guild Hunter story for Nalini & instead I got an introduction to Meljean's new steampunk series, and a visits to Nalini's other established series which I haven't read yet - it was on my list, & after reading this novella it's actually moved up on my list =)  So sometimes it's perfectly fine to get something other than the expected.

All caught up for now - but quite a stack out from the library.  Thanks for reading.

~Colette

Books 11-22

Sooo behind with books, both posting & reading.  So I'm going to get caught up with at least the posting part =)  But in the interest of doing so quickly, I'm going to keep my commentary mostly on the short side:

#11

The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance

Anthology

Paranormal Romance

This anthology featured short stories by:  C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp. Ilona Andrews, Kelley Armstrong, Anya Bast, Meljean Brook, Rachel Caine, Alyssa Day, Lori Devoti, Jeaniene Frost, Lynda Hilburn, Allyson James, Dina James, Jean Johnson, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Holly Lisle, Sara Mackenzie, Cheyenne McCray, Catherin eMulvany, Mary Jo Putney, Michelle Rowen, Eve Silver, Maria V. Snyde, Carrie Vaughn, & Anna Windsor

#12

Blood Magic

Eileen Wilks

World of the Lupi Book 6

Urban Fantasy

There were a couple of times I literally could not put this book down - I think I finished it in like 2 days, which used to be more normal for me but is super-quick compared to my pace lately.

#13

Flirt

Laurell K. Hamilton

Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Book 18

Paranormal Romance/Thriller

Lots of zombies in this one, which is kind of nice, since the whole animator side of Anita's life sometimes gets put on the sidelines while she's dealing with killing things, rather than raising them from the dead LOL.  Kind of short, which was disappointing, but as the author explained in the afterword, this is really an "extra" book on the year - the inspiration for it interrupted her when she was writing the last book for her other series (Divine Misdemeanors if you're curious like me) and so she put out this book which at under 200 pages is more of a novella, in addition to the regularly-scheduled Anita book that will be out in June

#14

Kushiel's Scion

Jacqueline Carey

Kushiel's Legacy, Book 4

Historical Paranormal

The first time I read this, I was really disappointed that the protagonist from the first 3 books was no longer narrating the story.  This time I think I actually enjoyed the book more, because I knew when I started that it was told from Imriel's point of view.

#15

Moon Craving

Lucy Monroe

Children of the Moon Book 2

Historical Paranormal Romance

Werewolves, as you might guess, this second book took a couple of minor characters from the first book & expanded on their story.

#16

Silver Borne

Patricia Briggs

Mercy Thompson Book 5

Urban Fantasy

Things seem to finally be settling down a little for Mercy, although I can't help but wonder what the vampires are up to since they didn't make an appearance in this book.

#17

Demon Angel

Meljean Brook

Guardians Book 2

Paranormal Romance

Although this is technically the 2nd book of the series, this was actually the first full-length novel.

#18

Master of Fire
Angela Knight

Mageverse  Book 6

Paranormal Romance

Her last couple of books have been in other series, so it has been a while since the last book in this world & I hope it's not so long again because one of the characters disappears at the end & I'd really like to find out what happens next.

#19

Wild Thing

Anthology

Paranormal Romance

This anthology featured short stories by:  Maggie Shayne, Marjorie M. Liu, Alyssa Day, & Meljean Brook

#20

Serpent Moon

C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp

Tales of the Sazi Book 8

Urban Fantasy

This book wrapped up a lot of loose ends that had been left in the earlier books, kind of bringing everything together for a conclusion, although I don't think it's the last book in this series.

#21

Changes

Jim Butcher

Dresden Files Book 12

Urban Fantasy

Damn right changes.  I know I have several readers who also read this series so I especially don't want to give any spoilers, but let me just say that while I was happy he managed to keep from killing off too many of my favorite characters, EVERYTHING else changes in this book.  And it's also the first one that ended on a genuine, heart in my throat cliffhanger.  A cliffhanger so worrisome let me just say I immediately went to the author's website to reassure myself that there would in fact be another book.  Which there will be - but there's no release date out there yet.  I want it like yesterday LOL, but I'm thinking more likely somewhere between October & December if I'm lucky, or sometime in 2011 if I'm not.

#22

The Mystery Writers of America Presents:  Crime By Moonlight - Mysteries From The Dark Side

Anthology

Paranormal Mystery

This anothology featured short stories by:  Charlaine Harris, William Kent Krueger, Margaret Maron, Brendan Dubois, Harley Jane Kozak, S.W. Hubbard, Jeffrey Somers, Elaine Viets, Barbara D’Amato, Lou Kemp, Martin Meyers, Terrie Farley Moran, Jack Fredrickson, Steve Brewer, Mike Wiecek, Dana Cameron, Carolyn Hart, Max Allan Collins and Mickey Spillane, Parnell Hall, Toni L.P. Kelner

I actually really enjoyed this anthology, even though with so many authors the stories were extremely short.  Shorter than I'd prefer really.

So!  That's what I've been reading the past couple of months.  Not exactly on track for my goal this year of 100 ... maybe I'll read another 30 books by the end of June?  But I doubt it.  Apparently I'm busier than I used to be =)

Thanks for reading.

~Colette